Chicago Fire coach Gregg Berhalter has spoken highly of the PSL, with the rise of Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Puso Dithejane in Major League Soccer highlighting the growing pathway between South Africa and the United States.
Mbokazi and Dithejane joined Chicago Fire in January after making the move from Orlando Pirates and TS Galaxy, respectively, and both have made an impression since arriving in MLS.
The two players have earned praise for their performances, with Mbokazi in particular establishing himself as an important part of the Chicago defence, while Dithejane has also shown glimpses of his attacking quality.
Berhalter impressed by PSL talent
Berhalter has now highlighted the quality coming out of South Africa, while pointing to Mbokazi and Dithejane as examples of the type of talent that can make the transition to MLS.
“I think South Africa is going to become a real pipeline for MLS, and I don’t think that’s a stretch,” Berhalter told Skillcorner.
“With Mbokazi, what stood out wasn’t just his physical attributes, it was his composure on the ball and his ability to read the game a step ahead of most centre-backs his age.
“Puso [Dithejane] brings a different profile. He has real technical quality, is comfortable in tight spaces, and fits the way we want to play.”
Why South Africa is attracting attention
Berhalter also emphasised the role of data and scouting in helping MLS clubs identify and assess players from the PSL before making a move.
“The PSL has genuine quality, and South Africa stands out across Sub-Saharan Africa because of the availability of player data,” he added.
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“That gives clubs like ours much greater confidence in evaluating players before they ever step foot in Chicago.
“As more MLS clubs become comfortable with that pathway, I expect you’ll continue to see more South African players making the move.”
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Source: www.bing.com
